Your Open Day Guide

You can now register your interest for our 2026 Open Day dates and we'll be in touch with you as soon as bookings open so you can secure your place. 

When bookings open for our Open Day sessions, you’ll be able to create your own tailored schedule by choosing from subject talks, campus tours and accommodation viewings at times that work best for you. You can browse and book sessions through your personal itinerary, which you’ll find linked in your booking confirmation email.

Once you’ve found an activity you’re interested in, simply choose your preferred timeslot. Each listing includes further details about the session as well as the location, with direct links to Google Maps for easy navigation.

After selecting a session, you can confirm your booking and return to the search tool to continue adding more events and activities to your itinerary.

Your personal itinerary will be available to access in the lead-up to the event and throughout the Open Day. It will hold all your booked sessions, along with the times and locations, so you can easily tailor your day.

• Our Open Days run from 9:00 - 16:00.
• Our campus is one of the largest in the UK, so it can take 10–15 minutes to walk from one side to the other. We recommend leaving enough time between sessions to get to your next activity comfortably and arrive on time.
• If your preferred subject-specific session is fully booked, don’t worry as you can still speak to student ambassadors and academic staff at drop‑in sessions throughout the day.
• When you arrive on campus, head to one of our check-in booth to pick up a campus map (PDF, 12.5MB). The map includes key building locations and directions to our accommodation villages, helping you navigate your day with ease.
• When it’s time to refuel, make your way to our street food hub in University Square. From wood‑fired pizzas to Katsu curries, there’s something for everyone. Grab something to eat and drink and soak up the buzzing Open Day atmosphere.

You’re welcome to bring family members or friends with you to share your Open Day experience. Please note that some activities have limited capacity. For this reason, certain sessions may be designated as “student only” or “student plus one guest”.

You only need to make one booking to cover yourself and any guests attending with you. Please ensure the prospective student’s name and email address are used when completing the booking form.

We welcome dogs on campus and they are permitted in all outside spaces.

We’ll email you and text you on the day so you can self check-in when you arrive.

Alternatively, you can visit any of our check-in booths. Here, our friendly students and staff will check you in, offer you a campus map (PDF, 12.5 MB) and give you any directions or support you may need.

A selection of our undergraduate accommodation options will be open for you to view during the Open Day. To make the most of your visit, we recommend booking a timeslot to tour our accommodation villages through your personal itinerary.

If you’d like to plan ahead, you can explore all our accommodation types using our 360 tours and hear first‑hand experiences from students in our accommodation blogs.

Our friendly accommodation team will also be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions and help you find the option that’s right for you.

Make the most of your Open Day by exploring everything Birmingham has to offer. Our campus is just seven minutes from the city centre by train, giving you plenty of time to visit after your day on campus. 

Winterbourne House and Gardens, located just a 15-minute walk from the University of Birmingham campus, features seven acres of serene botanic gardens and a Grade II listed Edwardian historic house. On Open Days, prospective students can enjoy free admission, while accompanying guests will need to pay £3.

Alternatively, there's plenty of fun activities and places to explore:

Explore the city of Birmingham

15 of the best things to do in Birmingham

Brutalism, brilliant brews and the balti triangle: 20 reasons to love Birmingham

Food and drink in Birmingham

Travelling to the University by train is the easiest and most convenient option. We are the only university campus in mainland UK with its own railway station - University station. Trains run up to six times an hour from Birmingham New Street and the journey takes around seven minutes.

Please be aware that the University station opened in January 2024. The former station building is now exit‑only and cannot be used to access the platforms. On Open Days, a one‑way system will be in operation to help manage passenger flow and reduce queues.

To enter the station, please use the main entrance on the Medical School side of the building. If this is your first time visiting the new station, we recommend allowing a little extra time to familiarise yourself with the new layout.

For the latest information on train times and ticket prices, please visit National Rail.

There are frequent express coach services to Birmingham from London, Heathrow and Gatwick airports and many other UK cities. The long-distance coach station is in Digbeth in the city centre. This is just a 12-minute walk from Birmingham New Street station or a 15-minute taxi ride to our Edgbaston campus.

If you are travelling from within the West Midlands, several local bus services stop at different parts of the University’s main Edgbaston campus, the Vale Village accommodation site, and the Selly Oak campus.

Bus service numbers: 1, 1A, 48, 61, 63, 76, X20, X21, X22

For more details on routes, timetables and fares, please visit the National Express West Midlands website.

Hotels and accommodation

If you're considering staying in Birmingham and exploring our beautiful city, why not stay on the University campus itself? We have our very own hotel – the Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre.

To book, please contact the hotel via email or call 0121 414 8888 for best rates.

Train travel

A railcard from National Rail can save you up to 1/3 on rail fares. There are 9 different national Railcards on offer. To find out more about Railcards, including prices, eligibility and more, check the National Rail website.

Coach travel

Students using this method of travel can benefit from 30% off National Express coach travel by booking using the promo code UOBOD30.*

Once you have arrived at Birmingham Coach Station, you can catch the bus, take a short walk to Birmingham New Street station to catch the train to the University station or jump in a taxi for a short ride to campus.

Further information is available on the National Express West Midlands website.

*Please note there are some terms and conditions associated with this discount:

• Discount only valid for students travelling to Open Days at the University of Birmingham.
• Redeemable from any location to Birmingham Coach Station.
• Valid for travel on the following dates; 25-28 June , 9-11 October, and  13-15 November 2026
• Valid for one person per booking.
• Tickets must be booked at least 72 hours in advance.
• Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, including Coachcards.
• Offer cannot be used on third-party services.
• Full National Express terms and conditions.
• All tickets are issued and all passengers are carried subject to National Express' General Conditions of Carriage.

Parking on campus is very limited, and we unfortunately cannot guarantee a space for Open Day visitors. We strongly recommend using public transport where possible.

If you are driving, our staff will be on hand when you arrive to direct you to the most suitable parking area.

Blue Badge parking

Visitors with a Blue Badge can use the designated accessible bays on the main campus. Please enter via the East Gate on Edgbaston Park Road (postcode: B15 2TS). Spaces cannot be reserved.

Main car parks for Open Day visitors

• North East Car Park (via Pritchatts Road) - B15 2SA
• Brailsford Drive Car Park (via Vincent Drive) - B15 2QU - EV charging stations available

Parking is free of charge on campus during Open Days, but these car parks are shared with staff and students and will fill up quickly.

Further travel information is available on our website.

Selly Oak 

Selly Oak train station is a short walk from campus and has a large car park with nearly 400 spaces, and parking is free, making it a convenient alternative if campus parking is busy.

City centre parking

There are numerous parking options in Birmingham city centre, including NCP car parks and large shopping centre car parks. From the city centre, a direct train from Birmingham New Street to University station takes around 7 minutes.

Birmingham operates a Clean Air Zone in the city centre. Unlike a congestion charge, which applies to all vehicles, this only affects higher‑polluting vehicles. If your journey takes you through central Birmingham, please check whether your vehicle is subject to the charge.

To find out more and see whether your car is exempt, visit the Brum Breathes website.

We have implemented a programme of accessibility adaptations on campus. All new buildings are being designed with accessibility in mind. Our team of staff and student ambassadors will be able to help direct you to our accessible routes across campus. 

Please fill out this form if you have any additional requirements you would like to request prior to the Open Day. 

View our Edgbaston campus mobility map (PDF, 448MB)

We have dedicated parking bays on campus for Blue Badge holders and all new buildings and major campus developments are being designed with accessibility in mind.